bilstein group are hosting a recruitment open day on Saturday 14^th October, from 10:00am until 16:00pm, to showcase its brand new building to the local area and highlight new employment opportunities within the company for residents around Chesterfield.

bilstein group’s new site, constructed on the northern plot of Markham Vale, Chesterfield, is the third site for the company and will unite all its distribution to one central location. Building began in April 2016, and the centre is due to be operational in January 2018.

Up to 140 jobs will be available, with the main recruitment drive starting from October. Training will be provided to all staff, to ensure they are ready and prepared for the ‘go live’.

bilstein group is an automotive aftermarket specialist, serving the UK for over 25 years. Their dynamic and innovative logistics are constantly developing to find new solutions and deliver the best customer service possible. A fast-moving business, with ambitious plans for the future, bilstein group are always one step ahead and are looking for a team of people to help drive this success.

In return for hard work and commitment, bilstein group offers real career momentum, with a competitive salary, benefits package and the opportunity to develop new skills and undergo training. bilstein group prides itself in being a company who invests in its staff, offering the ability to progress and improve within the company, as they understand that every member of staff will play a part in their overall success.

Amy Parker, HR Officer at Markham Vale said:-

“We are really looking forward to meeting everyone on the 14th October to really showcase what we can offer, and what we have achieved at Markham Vale. It’s a great feeling to know that we can really make a difference to the local area, as well as to our customer base, with this new state of the art site.”

If you would be interested in finding out more about what bilstein group can offer, visit their site on 14th October and see what opportunities are available to suit you.

‘People, place and connectivity’ are the focus of a new East Midlands HS2 Growth Strategy, revealing how the planned high speed rail network could add thousands of jobs and billions of pounds to the region’s economy.

In July (2017) Government confirmed its preferred route for HS2’s ‘Phase 2b’ line, or ‘eastern leg’; proposed to run from the West Midlands, through Nottinghamshire and Derbyshire – between the large urban conurbations of Nottingham and Derby – through to Leeds. The line includes plans for an East Midlands ‘hub’ station at Toton, Nottinghamshire – set to be the network’s best connected point outside London – an HS2 maintenance depot at Staveley, north Derbyshire, and provision for HS2 classic compatible trains serving the current Chesterfield train station. It’s estimated this eastern leg would open fully in 2033, but local partners believe there’s potential to partially open the hub station at Toton by 2030.

Now the East Midlands HS2 Strategic Board – a partnership of the region’s local authorities, businesses and Local Enterprise Partnerships – has submitted its East Midlands HS2 Growth Strategy: World Class-Locally Driven to Government.

The new in-depth study – building on an initial proposal published September 2016 – details the opportunities HS2 presents to drive long term growth for the regional economy, equivalent to an additional 74,000 jobs and almost £4billion of GVA (Gross Value Added) by 2043, and how this could be achieved.

These opportunities include:

• A North Derbyshire Growth Zone around Chesterfield and Staveley would put the planned HS2 Staveley depot at the heart of a series of mixed use regeneration opportunities, improve links between Chesterfield station and the town, and create an attractive gateway to the Peak District National Park and to other visitor attractions.
• An East Midlands Hub Growth Zone featuring a new Innovation Campus at the Toton ‘hub’ station to accommodate high growth businesses and universities’ research, and with the capacity to create up to 10,000 high skilled jobs and improved community facilities; which will be at the heart of a network of ‘garden village’ developments, including the nearby Stanton and Chetwynd Barracks sites.
• Greater connectivity – In addition to the greater rail connectivity HS2 would bring

the Strategy proposes improvements to local connectivity – using various modes of transport including road, bus, rail, tram, cycling, pedestrian – between East Midlands economic centres such as Derby, Leicester and Nottingham city centres, and East Midlands Airport; and between the towns and villages surrounding Toton and Chesterfield. The HS2 Growth Strategy also sets out comprehensive proposals for addressing congestion and improving connectivity on the A52.

• Delivering jobs and training opportunities – Research undertaken for the East Midlands HS2 Growth Strategy indicates HS2’s presence in the region – creating better links within the region and between it and the wider world, and by providing commercial opportunities for local supply chains – could boost jobs growth above projected UK trends; equivalent to an extra 74,000 jobs and almost £4billion of GVA by 2043. Manufacturing and technology sectors would particularly benefit, says the Strategy. It proposes jobs and skills promotion be based around the themes of inspiring young people, building further education capacity, harnessing the power of universities and supporting individuals.
• Providing opportunities for business – Construction of the HS2 network, and providing services and maintenance once it is operating, represent major commercial opportunities for a wide range of sectors; including for construction and transport equipment manufacturing supply chain firms. To take best economic advantage of this the East Midlands HS2 Growth Strategy proposes establishing a rail industry ‘innovation group’ through the existing Rail Forum East Midlands, and bidding for Staveley to become a construction and maintenance depot. There should also be a comprehensive HS2 awareness campaign to alert businesses and individuals to these opportunities, to ensure they are ‘HS2 ready’. 

Jake Berry MP – Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State (Minister for the Northern Powerhouse and Local Growth) at the Department for Communities and Local Government – added: “The investment this Government is making in HS2 represents an opportunity for economic growth, not just in the towns and cities along the route but across whole regions. I am delighted that East Midlands leaders have come together to develop an ambitious strategy which capitalises on this opportunity, and I look forward to discussing the proposals in more detail.”

Paul Maynard MP – Parliamentary Under Secretary of State for Rail, Accessibility and HS2 – said: “HS2 will become the backbone of our national rail network – supporting growth and regeneration and helping us build an economy that works for all.

“I welcome the initiative that the East Midlands local enterprise partnerships and local authorities have taken in working together to develop plans to maximise the economic benefits that HS2 will bring to Nottingham, Derby, Leicester and other parts of the region.”

Peter Richardson OBE, Chair of the D2N2 Local Enterprise Partnership, commented: “We have an exciting vision for the future, which sees HS2 as a catalyst to boost the region’s economy.

“For local people and businesses across the East Midlands, HS2 will mean more jobs and training opportunities, trade and investment, housing opportunities at a range of different sites, train services with quicker journey times, and better local transport connections. To make all this happen we need to plan early and engage support from all sectors of our community. This East Midlands HS2 Growth Strategy provides an excellent and practical vision of how we wish to achieve that.”

Sir John Peace, Chair of the Midlands Engine and Midlands Connect, said: “Midlands Connect and Midlands Engine are seizing the once in a lifetime opportunity HS2 brings to drive growth for the region. We are fully supportive of accelerating completion of the East Midlands HS2 Hub and are urging Government to bring this forward.

“Midlands Connect is already defining and developing the local strategic connections that will maximise the economic benefits of HS2 connectivity and, through Midlands Engine, we will work with partners to turn this ambitious growth strategy into action.”

Councillor Simon Spencer – Derbyshire County Council Cabinet Member for Highways, Transport and Infrastructure; and Vice-Chair of the East Midlands HS2 Strategic Board –said: “HS2 will bring more jobs and business opportunities to Derbyshire, as well as massive potential for the county’s tourism industry.

“We believe the best deal for Derbyshire residents will be achieved by working with the Government, to maximise the economic benefits and minimise the adverse impacts of the scheme.”

Scott Knowles, Chief Executive at East Midlands Chamber (Derbyshire, Nottinghamshire, Leicestershire), added: “HS2 is the single biggest transport infrastructure project in a generation, and represents a huge opportunity for businesses across the East Midlands and beyond. It has the potential to be truly transformational, much more than just a new railway.

“It will be a catalyst that drives regeneration along its entire route and leads to wider infrastructure investment, it will utilise the skills available in the world’s greatest cluster of rail-related businesses in Derby, and create opportunities to make sure those skills and new ones will pass to the next generation. It will bring together a raft of different partners as they work together to maximise the opportunities of HS2, both during construction and for decades afterwards.”

To read a copy of the East Midlands HS2 Growth Strategy: World Class-Locally Driven publication online go to web link www.d2n2lep.org/News/thousands-of-jobs-and-almost-4billion-for-economy-detailed-in-hs2-strategy

As employers everywhere worry about finding skilled staff, a ground-breaking initiative by the Sheffield City Region (SCR) is being launched to find out exactly what business needs.

In one of the most in-depth surveys into skills gaps and hard-to-fill vacancies, hundreds of business leaders across the region’s key industrial sectors are being approached to complete a brief survey. It will take less than 5 minutes to provide the details the region needs to provide the right skills, and help employers to fill jobs. Anyone else in business who is interested is encouraged to complete the survey at http://bit.ly/SCRskills.

The survey will be open to business leaders from the construction, manufacturing, business, professional, financial and digital sectors.  Running alongside it will be a series of round table discussions throughout the region with key influencers and decision makers.

The findings, which will be known by September, will allow the SCR to make well-informed decisions about adult education and skills training to help boost growth and jobs across the economy.

Nigel Brewster, Vice Chair of the SCR’s Local Enterprise Partnership, said:-

“We know we in the Sheffield City Region, along with many areas of the UK, face a skills shortage. Here in this region we are already tackling those issues. We also provide funding for business training which can be designed by the employer.

“However, we need much more detailed information from employers so that we can really provide first class access to skills training. We want to know if there is a link between certain missing skills – perhaps technical and social skills for example.

“We just need a few minutes of employers’ time to fill in the survey – job hunters and unsuccessful applicants are also being asked what holds them back.”

Thirteen new modern units for small to medium-sized businesses have been built at the Derbyshire County Council and Henry Boot Development’s flagship regeneration site Markham Vale.

The units, ranging in size from 1,200 to 3,050 sq. ft, are available to purchase or lease and have been built by Barnsley-based property developer Priority Space in partnership with the Hunt Group.

An online campaign was launched by the company to name the new development and the winning entry was Wilson Business Park in memory of Johnny Wilson who lost his life while working on site as a miner in the former Markham Colliery in 1987.

The name was submitted by local Derbyshire resident Andy Carroll − Johnny’s friend and colleague.

Lee Buchanan, Director at Priority Space, said:

“We are delighted to have brought forward a new modern industrial scheme at Markham Vale and are extremely happy with the level of enquires that we are receiving. There will be an open day on the morning of the 5 and 6 September for people who would like to view the new units.”

Councillor Tony King, Cabinet Member for Economic Development and Regeneration at Derbyshire County Council, said:-

“We’re delighted to welcome these new units to Markham Vale. They offer a great space for small to medium-sized businesses looking to either expand or start-up and have fantastic transport links being located just off junction 29A of the M1 motorway.

He added:-

“It’s an exciting time at Markham Vale − the site is now home to 42 businesses and more than 1,000 new jobs have been created so far. And we look forward to welcoming even more businesses over the next few months to join Markham’s thriving business community.”

Businesses interested in the new units can contact Stuart Waite from CPP Commercial Property Partners for more information by emailing stuart@cppartners.co.uk or by calling 0115 8966611.

Anthony Clitheroe from Henry Boot Developments − Derbyshire County Councils’ private sector property partner – said:-

“We are delighted to see the Wilson Business Park open for business and look forward to welcoming new businesses to Markham Vale in the near future.”

Scunthorpe-based construction firm Britcon (UK) Limited built the units on behalf of Priority Space and the Hunt Group.

New figures from the Department for International Trade show that foreign investment into the Sheffield City Region (SCR) leapt by a massive 73% in the financial year to the end of March compared to previous 12 months.

The Government figures, produced annually, show that there were 46 investments by foreign businesses, creating 2308 new jobs and safeguarding another 217.

Chesterfield Champions, Ferdinand Bilstein, being amongst the top five project successes taking on 150 employees in the last year alone.

This makes it the most successful year for international investment in the region since the SCR was created.

Teams from the regeneration departments of the nine local authorities are supported by the region-wide SCR Trade and Investment team to work together to attract foreign companies from overseas, and others already based in the UK looking to relocate and expand.

Rachel Clark, Director of Trade and Investment for the SCR, said:-

“These excellent figures are the exciting result of collaborative work with our local authority and business partners and the Department for International Trade. It’s rewarding to see a team effort bringing in such fantastic returns in terms of jobs and economic growth.”

Further examples of other recent investments in the SCR include:

• Peak Resort, the £400million tourism and leisure destination which is underway with £2.9million infrastructure funding from the SCR. The project will create 1,300 jobs.
• A new 44,595 sq metre facility at the Markham Vale Enterprise Zone for Great Bear will create 400 new jobs serving the UK domestic market. A second distribution operation at Markham Vale is the largest development at Markham Vale to date.

A consultation is to seek the public’s views on both short and long term plans to redevelop Chesterfield’s Northern Gateway area to breathe extra life in to the town centre.

Chesterfield Borough Council appointed Chesterfield-based Whittam Cox Architects to produce a vision document which sets out how the area could develop in the short term through the previously announced first phase of the Northern Gateway project and, once that is complete, how it might develop in the future.

The first phase of the Northern Gateway scheme will see:

• the former Co-op building redeveloped in a £10.5 million scheme by Central England Co-operative and Jomast Developments to house six ground floor restaurants, a Premier Inn hotel on the first and second floors and a health and fitness centre in the basement.
• Chesterfield Borough Council demolish the existing Saltergate multi-storey car park and replace it with a new, higher quality car park in a £6.54 million scheme
• An enterprise centre, incorporating a public space area, built on part of the Holywell Cross (Donut) car park to house small and medium sized companies
• Environmental street improvements around Elder Way and part of Knifesmithgate, to enhance this part of the town centre and make it more pedestrian friendly, will be funded using a £5.8 million grant from the Sheffield City Region.

This work will be completed over the next five years. Once that is delivered attention will turn to a second longer-term phase, which could see housing in the Newbold Road area.

The public will be able to see the plans, including visuals of how the area may look, and give their views at drop-in consultation sessions taking place in the entrance lobby to the Assembly Rooms in Chesterfield Market Hall between:

• 11am and 4pm on Friday 28 July and
• 10am and 2pm on Saturday 29 July.

Consultation information will then be displayed in the Tourist Information Centre in Rykneld Square from Monday 31 July to Friday 11 August. Residents can also complete the consultation online at www.chesterfield.gov.uk/northern-gateway.

Councillor Terry Gilby, Chesterfield Borough Council’s cabinet member for economic growth, said:-

“This public consultation will focus on the plans for the Enterprise Centre which the council is building and the environmental street improvements in Elder Way and Knifesmithgate.

“The key aim of the development at Northern Gateway is to attract more footfall for town centre shops and the market from the staff working in the Enterprise Centre and shoppers and visitors coming to a more attractive environment.

“We will also be seeking views on some of the longer term vision ideas about how the Northern Gateway can be better linked up to the historic core of the town centre, to the railway station and new developments like Waterside. This part of the vision is not something that will be happening soon but it is important that we plan for the future of the Newbold Road area too.”

The consultation will not include the Saltergate multi-storey car park or the Co-op redevelopment parts of the project.

Consultation has already taken place with Derbyshire County Council’s highways team, bus companies, taxi drivers, businesses and representatives of equalities groups to help produce the draft Northern Gateway vision document.

Andrew Dabbs, from Whittam Cox Architects, said:-

“Consultation with local people is an essential part of the design development process and we will look forward to presenting our plans and taking on board the feedback that will help us develop our scheme to the next level.

“We are pretty confident that with the work undertaken by our team in conjunction with the Chesterfield Borough Council will be welcomed and supported. We also hope through our consultation that people will understand the holistic benefit that this development could bring as a catalyst for wider regeneration around the Northern Gateway and the wider town centre.”

Following the public consultation a final version of the vision document will be produced which will then be used to attract inward investors to the Northern Gateway scheme.